| The novel To Kill A Mockingbird revolves around a | | | | then later shot for trying to escape this unjust |
| young girl named Jean Louise Finch who goes by | | | | ruling. Mr. Robinson just like a mockingbird is shot |
| the nicknamed “Scout”. Scout | | | | for no reason at all.The second theme which I will |
| experiences different events in her life that | | | | discuss is “coming of age”. The |
| dramatically change her life. Scout and her brother | | | | “Coming of age” theme basically |
| Jem are being raised by their father, a lawyer | | | | entails a character who evolves to a new level of |
| named Atticus and a housekeeper named | | | | self awareness through his or her experiences in |
| Calpumia in a small town in the south. At this point | | | | life. This is clearly the case with Scout in To Kill a |
| in time in the South racism and discriminations | | | | Mockingbird. An example of Scout’s |
| towards black was a big issue . The story begins | | | | “coming of age” can be seen when |
| when Scout is 6 years old, and her brother is | | | | she meets her friend Dill. Dill comes from a |
| about to enter the 5th grade. That summer | | | | broken home and lives somewhere beyond |
| Scout and her brother meet a young boy named | | | | Alabama. Scout who comes from a good home is |
| Dill who comes from Mississippi to spend the | | | | awaken to the different quality of life that exist |
| summers there. They become fascinated with a | | | | and is able to come to a conclusion that life exist |
| man named "Boo" Radley, a man in his | | | | beyond the world she knows. Through these |
| thirties who has not been seen outside of his | | | | experiences she grows more tolerant of others, |
| home in years, mainly because of his suppressed | | | | learning how to "climb into another person's |
| upbringing. They have an impression of Mr. Radley | | | | skin and walk around in it." On her first day |
| as being this large ugly and evil man. Then comes | | | | of school she finds that just like with Dill there are |
| the trial. Scout’s father becomes a | | | | both social and poor classes in society, some are |
| defense attorney for a black man, Tom Robinson, | | | | respectable and others not. She also learns that |
| who is falsely accused of raping a white women. | | | | her father is an extra-ordinary man, fighting for a |
| This has a big affect on Scout. During this trial she | | | | Negro's rights in court. During the trial of Tom |
| gets teased by friends because her father was | | | | Robinson Scout learns about equality and inequality |
| helping this black man. Scout starts to see the | | | | and finally about racial prejudice. By the final |
| racism that exist. During the trial Scout and her | | | | chapters of the novel, Scout goes to another |
| brother and close friend Dill witness the trial. Even | | | | “coming of age experience.” She |
| though they are young they can see that Mr. | | | | learns that good people can still suffer injustice. |
| Robinson is innocent. Even though Mr. | | | | She realizes this when she see’s Tom |
| Robinson’s innocence was clear even in the | | | | Robinson suffer injustice even though they did |
| eyes of kids, Mr. Robinson was still found guilty. | | | | nothing to deserve it. She discover that the |
| Later in an attempt to escape, Mr. Robinson is | | | | courts does not always result in justice. In the |
| shot dead. Scout is extremely disappointed at the | | | | end after all of Scout’s experiences and |
| verdict and even more at the death of Mr. | | | | discoveries we get the sense that she will not |
| Robinson and realizes the injustice that exist. Later | | | | follow the prejudice views which her society |
| in a cowardly attempt by the alleged rape victims | | | | upholds. In the end Scout had matured and grown |
| father, tries to kill Scout and her brother in order | | | | more as a kid, than many adults will do in there |
| to get even with her father for making him look | | | | lifetime.The third and final theme which I will |
| back in court. This is when Mr.Radley makes an | | | | discuss is “Justice”. In the story To |
| appearance again an stabs their attacker. Even | | | | Kill a Mockingbird I feel,the author, Ms. Lee |
| though Mr. Radley kills a man he is not tried for | | | | portrays true justice as being best seen through |
| murder because he was defending the Scout and | | | | the eyes of the innocent. In the story Scout and |
| her brother. Finally some justice. This gives Scout | | | | her brother, being the innocent,can clearly see the |
| some hope that is a chance for improvement in | | | | injustice being done to Mr. Robinson. In contrary |
| this unjust world.(Discussion of main themes in To | | | | to Scout and her brother other people in society |
| Kill A Mockingbird)There are many different | | | | more specifically the older people in the town, the |
| themes present in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper | | | | people who have lived through different |
| Lee. The first theme which I will discuss is | | | | experiences, become blinded when it comes to |
| “Prejudice”. The whole story | | | | true justice. Or maybe they are not blinded but |
| revolved around the prejudice views of this | | | | just choose to ignore it. This is clearly seen when |
| Southern community. The whole reason why the | | | | they sentence an innocent man to death. This |
| trial was going on was because of people views | | | | ignorance of justice can be blamed on the |
| towards blacks in the south. Since the alleged rape | | | | prejudice views which are present and eventually |
| victim’s father has such a prejudice view | | | | instilled in society in the south. So I feel that |
| towards black, he is embarrassed that his | | | | Harper Lee is connecting justice with innocence to |
| daughter was actually flirting with a black man. To | | | | a certain extent. In my opinion Harper Lee |
| combat this he falsely accuses the innocent Mr. | | | | portrays justice as being easily detected. The |
| Robinson of rape. If it wasn’t for the | | | | reason I say this is even the young justice. The |
| prejudice view which existed in the south the | | | | problem is society can instill beliefs that can act as |
| accusation would had never been brought against | | | | a veil and blind the people from justice. The only |
| Mr. Robinson. These prejudice views in the south | | | | way to uncover this veil is through people like |
| created a double standard of justice. With all the | | | | Atticus who can pass his morality and nobility to |
| negative points that can be found in the story in | | | | the young and the “blinded”(Would I |
| respect to prejudice, there was a bright spot | | | | recommend this book?)I would definitely |
| when it came to the prejudice issue. This | | | | recommend people to read the book To Kill a |
| “ray of light” came in the form of | | | | Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I found it to be an |
| Scout’s father Atticus. Atticus represented | | | | interesting and powerful book. I feel the book |
| hope. Hope that good people still exist. Even in a | | | | does a great job in portraying the extreme |
| society filled with hate. Atticus represented the | | | | prejudice that existed in the south at that time. I |
| hope that one day things can changeThe | | | | feel this book makes a powerful statement on |
| “Prejudice” theme also ties in well | | | | how justice can be altered through racism. I also |
| with the title of the book “To Kill A Mocking | | | | think that the themes found in the book are |
| Bird.” In Chapter 10, Scout and Jem Finch | | | | themes which can still be found in our current |
| get air rifles for Christmas. Scouts father tells her | | | | society and that makes it the more interesting. |
| and her brother that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird | | | | You can even make a case that prejudice still has |
| because mockingbirds are harmless creatures | | | | an effect in our legal system today. So if you are |
| who do nothing but sing for our enjoyment. In the | | | | looking for a powerful book of “coming of |
| story To Kill a Mockingbird Mr. Robinson is clearly | | | | age” and the battle for justice I would |
| the “Mocking Bird”. He is a good man | | | | highly recommend To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper |
| who has never harmed anyone and is figuratively | | | | Lee.You may visit and for instant access to over |
| and literally shot by society because of prejudice. | | | | 45,000 plus term papers and essays. Thousands |
| The jurors sentence him to death not because he | | | | of FREE papers are also available. |
| did anything wrong but because of prejudice. He is | | | | |